Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 97 Zhu Cilang's Counterattack
Zhu Cilang was well aware of his ability to consistently prevail in this unequal war. Without Fengyang City's robust defenses, he wouldn't have been able to compete with Duoduo with such composure.

However, he could not easily wipe out the enterprising spirit and desire to attack that were slowly recovering among the army, from the commanders of each battalion to the ordinary soldiers.

Otherwise, after a few months, when the Qing army can no longer hold on and wants to withdraw, I am afraid no one will be willing to take the initiative to attack.

"All the troops in the city have been deployed to the four walls. It will probably be difficult to withdraw them in a short time."

Zhu Cilang expressed his attitude calmly, paused, and then said:
"Most importantly, sending troops at this time doesn't conform to any of the previous plans. Troops are difficult to control at night, and if we attack rashly, it's difficult to guarantee the effectiveness of the counterattack."

Before the war, Zhu Cilang and his generals formulated contingency plans to deal with various emergencies. Although there is no guarantee that the plans will be consistent with the specific battle situation, most situations are within the general framework of several major plans.

Correspondingly, the military deployment in the city was adjusted according to the troop mobilization plans of each plan to ensure that the troops in the city could respond promptly in times of crisis.

In the Battle of Fengyang, Zhu Cilang had an overall strategy - the specific strategies and tactics in the defensive phase, stalemate phase, and counterattack phase were different, and the strategic goals to be achieved were also different.

But one thing remains unchanged, that is, we will never passively defend, but actively counterattack on the basis of stability, accumulate small victories into big ones, and use this to train troops and boost the morale of the army and the people.

This was also the reason why the Ming army took the initiative to attack before. As long as they were sure that they had the advantage, or the Qing army entered a special terrain environment, Zhu Cilang would show no mercy.

"Your Majesty, it is difficult for us to control the troops at night, and the same is true for the Qing army. What's more, the Qing army was repelled by us, and it must be even more chaotic." Chang Denggui seemed to feel that he had seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this time, and he was very active.

"That's right. The Qing army has just suffered a defeat, and the fleeing soldiers must be retreating in panic. As long as we suppress those fleeing soldiers and charge forward, the Qing army will find it difficult to exert its combat effectiveness. Now there are at least two hours before dawn. It's completely fine for us to kill them fiercely and then retreat." Lin Changfeng also bowed and expressed his support for Chang Denggui's proposal.

The victories in the past few days have indeed boosted the morale of the Palace Army. Seeing that the Qing army suffered repeated defeats, they naturally felt that the troops under their command were capable of fighting, especially since they almost wiped out Geng Zhongming's troops on the plains before.

"Now the Qing army has attacked the moat under the earth wall. I am worried that they will take the opportunity to build an earth wall within a hundred steps. We must repel them in time, otherwise it will be difficult to counterattack later." Chang Denggui said immediately. This is a very urgent issue.

"The soil outside the city is quite soft. If the Qing army had prepared sandbags in advance and sent thousands of civilians to work together, the trench could have been built quickly. Such an earthen wall could not be destroyed by the shells of the French cannon and the general cannon." Lin Changfeng continued.

The trenches and holes that the Qing army had previously filled during the day were filled by the two of them at night. This also enabled the Qing army to advance step by step. After advancing under the cover of shield carts every day, they would immediately dig earth walls and send troops to garrison.

Lin Changfeng and Chang Denggui have been studying countermeasures in the past few days, so they soon thought that after the Qing army was repelled, it would be very likely that this method would be adopted to expand the results of the battle during the chaos.

Not only the Palace Guards, but also Chen Fu said immediately after he finished deploying the defenses of the other city gates:
"Your Majesty, I also think this battle is worth a try. The Qing army is currently attacking from the east, south, and west, and their forces are already very dispersed. If we can concentrate the elite cavalry in the city in one place, the Qing army will surely be unable to resist.

Duoduo had no strategy in fighting. He had been leading his troops south for more than a month. The previous siege was nothing but a waste of time. He would just test the waters every day and then withdraw his troops immediately. This showed that he had no determination to fight a long and hard battle.

Now, they are besieging a huge city dozens of miles in all directions and launching a night attack. This is completely reckless and will only lead to wasted troops and horses. It is completely useless."

Zhu Cilang nodded when he heard this. Chen Fu's analysis of Duoduo was actually mostly correct, especially his analysis of Duoduo's character and decision-making, which was a very important ability for an excellent commander.

"But Duoduo is not the only one in the Qing army. The tens of thousands of Eight Banner soldiers in the army are also veterans who have experienced hundreds of battles. Manchu nobles such as Tulai and Tunqi are even more cautious. Even Duoduo, although he does not have the determination to fight hard and difficult battles, he has always been cunning and his strategy should not be underestimated."

As soon as these words were spoken, the generals looked at each other in dismay, with disappointment on their faces.

Although Zhu Cilang didn't explicitly say whether to fight or not, how could they not know his attitude after hearing such words? They were all very sorry, but they didn't dare to say anything else.

At this time, almost none of the eloquent civil servants followed them up to the city wall. Zhu Cilang asked them to stay in the mansion where the officials were stationed for safety reasons, so as to prevent these guys from hindering their progress on the battlefield.

Chang Denggui, Chen Fu, Lin Changfeng, Bai Yongfu and others used to be annoyed by these civil servants who could only come up with bad ideas and talk big but not on paper. Now they miss them a little.

If these civil servants were present at the scene, they would certainly dare to make a scene and demand to pursue the victory, but they simply did not have the courage to do so. Otherwise, if the civil servants impeached them, they would be in big trouble.

You have to know that the system of the Ming Dynasty is here. The long-term practice of suppressing the military with the civil officials has led to the distinction between the civil and military officials. This is a mark engraved in the hearts of these military generals and it is not so easy to erase.

"But this is indeed a rare opportunity. If we don't seize it, we may never have it again!"

Zhu Cilang looked at their lost expressions, then changed the subject and said:

"Also, what Chang Denggui said is indeed correct. If the Qing army cannot take the city after a long siege, they will most likely retreat and start digging trenches and building walls, then setting up artillery to prepare for a further assault. This will be very disadvantageous for us defending the city. It is necessary to attack now while the chaos is going on."

Upon hearing this, the generals immediately became very alert and looked up at Zhu Cilang. When they heard this, they knew that His Majesty must have a specific strategy.

"We were able to win repeatedly in the past because we used the right strategies and tactics and our soldiers fought bravely. But now in Fengyang, there are hundreds of thousands of Qing troops outside, watching covetously. We only have tens of thousands of soldiers capable of fighting. If we fight openly, we will definitely not be able to win."

Zhu Cilang glanced at the generals before him, then asked, "Do you remember the two red lines I mentioned to you earlier?"

"Any specific strategy or tactic must consider whether it is conducive to achieving the ultimate strategic goal of the Jianghuai defense war, and whether it can further strengthen the local battlefield advantage." Chen Fu replied immediately.

"The current situation is still that the enemy is strong and we are weak. Our ultimate strategic goal is to repel the enemy. If we counterattack now and succeed, both of these two points will be met."

Zhu Cilang nodded to Chen Fu. The most taboo thing for a military commander is to deviate from the core strategic purpose when deploying troops, so as to fail to concentrate troops and miss the opportunity to fight.

"But as for specific tactics, I've also said that in terrain like the Jianghuai region, without the protection of a city, it's absolutely impossible. All military strategies must adhere to one principle: rely on terrain and fortifications to reverse the enemy's strength."

"Your Majesty means that we should take advantage of the chaos to counterattack, but not leave the outer fortifications?" Chang Denggui immediately understood.

"Yes, this way, we can be sure of victory. Even if an accident occurs, it will be under our control, and the Qing cavalry will not be able to use these methods."

Zhu Cilang nodded and said, "Duoduo is quite cunning. It's still dark now. If we pursue him too far, there will definitely be chaos. The Qing cavalry has the advantage of mobility and can easily outflank them."

"But looking at the Qing army besieging them from three sides, especially the east, they've lost at least a thousand soldiers. It doesn't look like a performance!"

Chang Denggui heard the worry in Zhu Cilang's words. Thinking of the military information just reported back, he continued:

"If it's a feint to lure the enemy, the Qing army shouldn't be able to do it so seriously, right?"

"That's not the key. The key is that our troops are not strong enough. Our battle with Duoduo has just begun. A quick victory is impossible. The Qing army is far from exhausted. It's not time to launch an all-out attack yet."

Zhu Cilang shook his head, and then gave another order:

"It would be best if the cavalry and infantry cooperated in this battle. The cavalry should attack appropriately, hunt down the defeated soldiers and tie down the Qing army, while the infantry should occupy the outer fortifications. It would be best if they could also knock down the trenches and earth walls that the Qing army has dug in the past few days." Just as Zhu Cilang gave the order, countless golden flames suddenly appeared on the plain east of Fengyang City, followed by bursts of noise like a tide. The originally dark earth was instantly filled with light.

"The Qing army is really coming to dig trenches!" Chang Denggui blurted out when he saw this, and couldn't help but feel secretly happy in his heart, as his guess was correct.

When Zhu Cilang heard the sound, he immediately stepped forward and walked to the edge of the city wall. At this time, flames were rising to the sky in the east, and even the sky was dyed yellow by the flames.

The Qing army not only lit torches, but also built countless bonfires on the ground for lighting. Columns of thick smoke rose from the fire, appearing and disappearing in the flames. The flames rising into the sky immediately improved the Qing army's vision.

"Hu Maozhen, lead the 3,000th headquarters of the Wuyong Battalion to provide support and personally defend the first earthen wall. But after repelling the Qing army's night attack, do not pursue them. Seize the time and redeploy your defenses!"

After hearing this, Chang Denggui thought that Zhu Cilang would still focus on defense. He was anxious for a moment and spoke quickly without waiting for the other party to continue giving orders, hoping to fight for it again.

"Your Majesty, Duoduo's nighttime march was a grave offense, and now he's been defeated by my army. He's absolutely no match for us. I believe we can fight him."

"General Chang is right. If we pursue the victory, we will be able to wipe out the Qing army without leaving a single piece of armor, and even force Duoduo to retreat." Lin Changfeng said immediately after seeing this.

Not only that, Chen Fu, Bai Yongfu and others also spoke out. They were all very excited at this time. Chang Denggui guessed the Qing army's intention of a night attack, which made him more confident. They were also affected.

"Of course we have to send the Tianqi Battalion, but sending just the Tianqi Battalion is not enough. If we have to fight, we have to inflict pain on the Qing army so that they will be terrified when they think of us in the future.

Bai Yongfu, you must immediately mobilize the cavalry from the Beijing Camp. The Celestial Cavalry Camp will take the lead and be responsible for the assault, while the Beijing Camp cavalry will be responsible for stabilizing the front and supporting the Celestial Cavalry Camp as they retreat after the assault."

Zhu Cilang looked at the generals in front of him with a firm gaze and a steady tone, leaving no room for doubt:
"But the same goes for the Celestial Cavalry Battalion. Don't pursue them too far. Once we lose the protection of the city walls, artillery, and trenches, and reach the outer plains, our cavalry won't be enough to fill the gaps."

"Yes, sir!" After receiving the order, Chang Denggui and Bai Yongfu turned around and walked towards the city wall with their personal guards. They soon rode out and rushed to where their troops were.

As soon as the two of them left, Zhu Cilang suddenly thought of something and said to Chen Fu, who was still waiting on the side:

"Chen Fu, you must rush to Hongwu Gate immediately and command the army to unleash all the weapons stored in the arsenal. Don't worry about the effect, but make sure to make a loud noise to attract the Qing army's attention."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" After receiving the order, Chen Fu immediately turned around and went down the city, riding his horse towards Hongwu Gate.

These rockets were all built in workshops across Nanzhili. Although the situation of cutting corners has been greatly improved under the rectification of Li Banghua and Lu Zhenfei, shoddy workmanship is still common.

Zhu Cilang had sent people to inspect before, and the pass rate was less than half. Many could only fly more than twenty steps, and some would even suddenly turn around and fly back.

Therefore, he never used it. Such firearms were not very effective in attacking the Qing army, but they were enough for bluffing. Zhu Cilang did not have to feel sorry for it at all. He would not feel sorry for using them all at once.

After all his generals had left the city and rushed to various places, Zhu Cilang immediately turned around, gripped the cold and hard bricks on the battlements of the city wall with both hands, and looked towards the direction of Chaoyang Gate again. There, not only were flames shooting into the sky, but also shouts of killing were deafening.

At this time, outside Chaoyang Gate, the military bugles of the Ming and Qing armies sounded one after another, and the shouts of killing were one wave after another. The dense footsteps and the sound of helmets and armor on the earthen walls and under the city, and the bright light reflected from the spear tips and blades showed the powerful strength of the two Ming armies.

On the earth wall, the Ming army archers on the watchtowers on both sides fired back, while the Qing army archers in the trench below also fought back. Dense arrows flew everywhere, and there was a sound of puffing and clanging. More than a dozen soldiers on both sides fell down with screams, and the wounded soldiers lying on the ground kept wailing.

As the battle continued, the artillery on the first earth wall had basically lost its effect, and due to the angle problem, the second earth wall could only attack the Qing army at a distance, and the artillery fire was still quite fierce.

Under the command of Duoduo and Tulai, a large number of civilians were driven up without the protection of shield carts. They either carried bags of sand or held digging tools. From time to time, shells fell among them, bringing out a burst of wailing.

However, due to the darkness and the continuous fighting, the artillery on the earthen wall could no longer cause enough damage to the civilians and the Qing troops supervising the battle. The Qing troops who attacked the earthen wall further cut off the possibility of the Ming army's combat troops launching an attack.

These civilians quickly arrived at a place about a hundred steps away from the earth wall. After pulling out the corpses inside, they quickly threw sandbags into the pits and trenches. At the same time, they quickly began to dig the earth, preparing to build a trench earth wall based on the original horse-blocking ditch of the Ming army.

This was Duoduo's final trick to force Zhu Cilang to send his troops, leaving him with no choice but to accept the attack. Otherwise, once the Qing army relied on the newly built earthen walls and slowly bombarded the city walls with artillery, their advantage would be greatly enhanced.

Baiyintu had already arrived at the Lanmagou. In front of him were rows of constantly shaking helmets and spear blades that flashed yellow light under the firelight.

At this time, he had received the order to retreat slowly, but in order to force Zhu Cilang to send troops to fight, Duoduo also sent out a large number of baoyi soldiers, making a formation to dig trenches and build walls. For the time being, he had to pretend to attack by force.

After witnessing the powerful combat capability of the Ming army, Bai Yintu was no longer willing to attack the earth walls by force. The Qing Dynasty could not afford such casualties.

But he knew that if he wanted to lure the Ming army to attack, he had to make it more genuine, otherwise the cunning Ming emperor would never believe it.

Under the threat of Bayara's soldiers, the Eight Banners soldiers had no choice but to rush forward again, and then they were warmly welcomed by the Ming army's spearmen and fell into the trench with screams.

At the same time, many Eight Banners soldiers were bluffing, and the musketeers scattered on both sides even shot at the earth wall, but they were not accurate at all. Most of the lead bullets hit the earth wall, and gravel and soil splashed and flew, hitting the helmets of the Qing army charging below, making a clanging sound.

However, fighting at night, the Ming army, which had just recaptured the first earth wall, was unable to judge the Qing army's offensive at this time, and they could only fight back with all their might.

Zhao Zhengdong and his soldiers had just arrived at the second earth wall. They were going to rotate a bureau originally stationed here.

The 1,000th Headquarters of the Tianwu Left Camp had suffered heavy losses in the previous battle and had not yet finished their rest. Chang Denggui did not give them the task of attacking, but instead replaced them with another complete unit of troops.

Although there were constant sounds of artillery fire on the earth wall, everything was still in good order. The artillerymen were continuously firing shells, but the speed was still much slower than during the day.

Zhao Zhengdong looked up and saw a huge fire on the plain. Countless black figures were jumping back and forth against the golden background. On the earth wall in front of him, his own armored soldiers were shouting to kill the enemy. The Qing soldiers often couldn't hold on quickly when facing the fierce Ming army spearmen on the earth wall.

The officers on both sides were howling wildly. The sounds of musketry, earth-shaking shouts and the collision of weapons mixed together. Dark shadows kept falling from the narrow earthen walls, screaming, and then after groaning in pain in the trenches for a few times, there was no movement.

By this time, the Ming army inside the city had essentially assembled. The three divisions and five bureaus of the Palace Army, totaling over 1,400 armored soldiers, who had been resting in the city camp, had all been mobilized. The Tianqi and Jing camps, in addition to their scouts from various locations, also arrived one after another, now totaling over 300 cavalry.

He looked at the fierce battle in front of him and felt quite nervous. The Qing army's night attack was beyond everyone's expectations. He heard that they even attacked the first earth wall at one point, but fortunately they were quickly repelled.

Just as he was dazed by the fierce battle scene below, loud explosions suddenly came from the direction of Hongwu Gate, and fireworks flew up from time to time. Then the night sky in the south was dyed a faint yellow.

In order to cooperate with Chang Denggui's counterattack in the east, Chen Fu has begun to launch rockets at all costs!
　Thanks to the book friends "Ah, little lady, don't run" and "Lu Ming Ye Jing Qiang" for their rewards.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)